H. AUSTILL PHARR GYMNASIUM | MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Basketball team saw the 2023-24 regular season come to an end in a tough way on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, falling by one point to Stillman College (Ala.) in Pharr Gymnasium. Mobile led for much of the second half before Stillman used a comeback to secure the 65-64 victory, handing the 19th-ranked Rams their third consecutive loss.
With the loss, Mobile's overall record falls to 20-8, with the SSAC record dropping to 13-7. Mobile has earned the No. 5 seed in the upcoming SSAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, scheduled to begin next week in downtown Montgomery, Ala.
How It Happened
Prior to the start of Saturday's regular season finale, three seniors from the University of Mobile Men's Basketball program were honored for Senior Day. Joshua Williams, Sage McKenna, and the injured Pooh Frazier all were celebrated by family, teammates, and fans for their contributions to the University of Mobile. Additionally, the University of Mobile welcomed back the 2004 UM Men's Basketball NAIA Final Four team to campus for a 20th anniversary celebration.
Saturday's game was a game of runs between Mobile and Stillman, with the visiting Tigers opening the first half with a 9-2 advantage. Mobile quickly erased Stillman's lead, however, and eventually took a 40-32 advantage to halftime. The Rams made 15 shots from the floor in the first half, tallying six made three-pointers. For Stillman, the Tigers relied on 12 made shots, with four threes through the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Mobile led for the entire half until Stillman used a late run to reclaim the lead with just seconds remaining on the clock. With just over five minutes left in regulation, the Rams led by as much as 11 points over the Tigers, but went scoreless across the final three minutes of the ballgame. Stillman used a 14-2 run through the final five minutes to steal the win. Mobile missed two go-ahead shots near the buzzer to drop the third-straight game, and finished Saturday's game with just one made shot on the final 14 possessions.
Mobile shot just 32% against Stillman, making nine of 16 free throw attempts. The Rams added just one three-pointer in the second half compared to the six made threes through the first 20 minutes. Coming off a two-point performance earlier in the week, DaMariee Jones led the Rams with a double-double, recording 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ezra McKenna collected his 23rd double-double of the season in the defeat, finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds. From off the bench, Treylan Smith scored 16 points in 25 minutes, while Senior and starter Sage McKenna notched 11 points. Two of Mobile's starting five, Trent Moye and Joshua Williams, went scoreless in the one-point loss on Saturday.
SSAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament
The four-day, single-elimination conference tournament begins next Wednesday, Feb. 28 and will conclude with the title game Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. Mobile is scheduled to open the tournament on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 9:45 p.m. CT as the No. 5 seed with a game against rival William Carey University (Miss.)
All games are being played at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery, Ala.. Tickets are being sold online only and can be purchased at ssacsports.com/tickets.Â
Men's Basketball Seeding
1. UT Southern – 18-2
2. Stillman – 16-4
3. Life – 14-6
4. William Carey – 13-7
5. Mobile 13-7
6. Dalton State – 11-9
7. Loyola – 9-11
8. Thomas – 9-11
9. Faulkner – 9-11
10. Middle Georgia – 7-13
FOLLOW THE RAMS
For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams ("X" FKA Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.Â
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
